We are pleased to welcome artists Ibrahim Abu Touq and artist Salaam Sheikh Khader on a talk where our guest speakers will survey the origins, references and applications – ancient and modern – in the usage of Arabic letters and calligraphy in contemporary art. Each of our guests will also discuss their personal practices in using writing and calligraphy in their works of art.

Iraqi artist Salam Al-Sheikh Khedher graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad in 1976.  He also majored in the art of printmaking at the Universities of Madrid and Barcelona in Spain and completed his specialization in the printmaking technique “Silk Screen” at the University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada in 1992. Since then,  he has held numerous solo and group exhibitions at the international level. The artist lives now between the cities of Zurich and Amman.

Artist Ibrahim Abu Touq was born in Amman – Jordan in 1958. He received a diploma in architecture in 1977 and worked in design and art direction for twenty years where he also worked  as an art supervisor and graphic designer. He mastered the classical stage in Arabic calligraphy and then set out for the more contemporary and painterly usage of calligraphy in his art. In addition, he invented the fonts ‘Touq’ and ‘Petra’. Since the beginning of the present century Abu Touq studied philosophy and art criticism independently and devoted himself as a full time artist since 2005, where he has held multiple group and solo exhibitions at the local and international level.